MANILA, Philippines — Robert Bolick scored 24 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to lead the NLEx Road Warriors to an 84-81 comeback victory over Blackwater in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup opener at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday.
Bolick hit a decisive three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to give NLEx a three-point lead, which held until the final buzzer. Coach Jong Uichico praised Bolick’s ability to take critical shots under pressure, noting that the guard “has the DNA to take that shot and take that burden.”
Import Cady Lalanne contributed 22 points and 16 rebounds for NLEx, while Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield scored 18 points and Daniel Ochefu posted 16 points and 16 rebounds.
The win serves as a momentum boost for NLEx after an early exit in the Philippine Cup quarterfinals. The Road Warriors will face the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Ynares Center Montalban in Rodriguez, Rizal, followed by games against Bol Bol and the TNT Tropang 5G on March 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and against Barangay Ginebra on March 27, also at the Big Dome.
